Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult? Start here.
Patients diagnosed with ADHD adults are a very unique group of people - and I love working with them! Ideally, when ADHD is diagnosed in children, these kids are provided with resources to help them succeed. This can be additional time for tests, additional or supplemental school programs or services, psycho-education, or even changes in parenting style.
But patients with ADHD who weren’t diagnosed as kids were (usually) never offered these resources.
So instead, they found ways to manage their symptoms. They knew they had a tendency to make silly mistakes due to inattentiveness, so they were the last one to finish their assignments and double-checked their work. They knew they had a tendency to lose track of time and get easily distracted, so they set multiple alarms and put in appointments an hour earlier than their actual start time.
But eventually, these patients become business owners, mothers, fathers, lawyers, teachers…and even though they’ve developed many skills to manage their ADHD symptoms, they hit a wall. Or they simply decide it’s finally time to figure this out and see a professional.
So you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. Now what?
Feel your feelings
I’ve had some patients cry when they realize they have ADHD. Some patients feel frustrated or even angry - “If only I’d been diagnosed when I was a kid. Maybe I would have done better in school or in my career.” Sometimes patients feel relieved or validated. Finally - an answer!
All of these responses, reactions, and feelings are valid. It’s ok to feel sad, disappointed, or even angry. Coming to terms with a new diagnosis is a personal journey.
But it’s important to remember that the path forward isn’t around these feelings - it’s through it!
2. Don’t abandon the skills you’ve picked up along the way
Do you have a tendency to double check your work? Do you use to-do lists and planners and sticky notes to remember things? Keep doing that! These are important skills that will continue to serve you well.
Even though things could have been smoother if you'd been treated/had access to appropriate resources in the past, you are the person you are today because of all your past experiences and the things you have learned. You have a unique perspective about the world and what it means to have ADHD. And unique perspectives cannot be duplicated.
Your experiences are invaluable and precious. Do not downplay them!
3. Remember: You are not your diagnosis!
People are complicated, multi-faceted beings. Even if a diagnosis gives us more insight into how you think, experience the world around you, and act, that doesn’t mean it defines you. You are so much more than a diagnosis!
